‘A Man’s Best Friend’ – This title has been aptly given to two things: one is a book and the other is a dog. Evolution suggests that the first species ever to be tamed by humankind is a dog.
The long association of man and its beloved pet has been celebrated over centuries in various art forms, literature text, etc. As time went by the function of dogs as mere pets expanded to varieties of roles like a guard, sniffer, helpers, etc.
Training a Dog
As we say that dogs were the very first species to be tamed by man. It essentially means that they are much better capable of getting trained than their other pawed counterparts. History says that the earliest mention of training dogs dates back to the Roman era.
You would be able to find the best dog obedience training with a few clicks or taps in this age of superfast internet. However, one can easily get confused about what type of training would be suitable for your dog. The key to this answer lies in the fact that a dog is quite sensitive to its surroundings and can grasp and learn from the various interactions that happen in its immediate environment.
While dog training might sound posh and fancy in the context of common household pets, it has its importance as well. Dog training is extensively used for various purposes, some of which are listed below:
- Searching and Rescuing
- Herding livestock, especially sheep
- Acting as guards to explosive
- Detecting explosives and drugs, as sniffers
- Shooting assistance
- Disability helpers, especially guide dogs for the blind
- Circus and recreational activities
- Companions in old age homes or mental hospitals
Types of training for dogs
Dog training can be broadly divided into 2 categories: Basic and Advanced
Basic Training allows the trainer to have control over the dog so that it follows elementary commands like to come, sit, walk-off, or lead, not straying, and being non-aggressive unless triggered.
Advanced Training on the other hand deals with multitudes of factors so that the dogs are trained as per the function they are supposed to perform. As part of advanced training, it is very important to understand the psyche of the dog to be trained and its inter-personal relation with its handler.
Various methods are identified in terms of dog training like Koehler method, Motivational training, Electronic Training, Model-Rival Training, Electronic Training, etc. Each of these methods has its pros & cons and therefore needs consideration before their application.
However, of these methods, electronic training is frowned upon since it involves electric shock to the dog via a remotely controlled dog collar in training to perform the designated tasks.
The dogs in training must be treated fairly and humanely, only then will such training programs be beneficial to the masses.
